Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2002
ReviewAutomatic external defibrillator: key link in the chain of survival.
Sudden cardiac death is a major health problem. Worldwide success of resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is modest, with 5% to 10% survival to hospital discharge. ⋯ The AED is a promising tool in the fight against sudden cardiac death and should be studied and supported by all scientists involved, including electrophysiologists.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2002
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator utilization based on discharge diagnoses from Medicare and managed care patients.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become an accepted therapy for patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death. To assess the current utilization of this therapy, we estimated the number of patients at risk of sudden death using an historical claims-based study and compared these results to current ICD usage volumes. ⋯ This study suggests that, based on discharge diagnoses, many patients who could benefit from ICDs are not receiving this therapy. Diverse reasons for this underutilization should be addressed to improve access to, and appropriate use of, this therapy.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2002
Case ReportsContinuous hemodynamic monitoring in heart failure.
Chronic congestive heart failure is associated with high morbidity and mortality, frequent hospital admissions, and high treatment costs. As the prevalence and incidence of the disease are increasing, there is a clear need to improve the management of heart failure patients. Continuous hemodynamic monitoring with an implanted device is technically feasible and safe. ⋯ This article describes the technical details of the monitoring system and presents possible clinical applications, with a focus on beta-blocker therapy, diuretics, and volume management. A case is reported, illustrating how hemodynamic long-term trends might add valuable information during up-titration of beta-blockers. Future implications of hemodynamic monitoring are discussed.